Geneva Preview: Abarth 500C and Punto Evo are pocket rockets we'd welcome

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Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Fiat

Abarth 500C (above) and Punto Evo (below right) - Click either for high-res image galleries

Fiat's plucky Abarth performance division manages to do a whole lot with very little. The in-house tuning garage has based their entire lineup on two Fiat hatchbacks: the Punto and the 500. So when Fiat rolled out new versions of both, it was only a matter of time until Abarth got their hands on them, and both are slated to make their debut at the fast-approaching Geneva Motor Show.



First up is the 500C. The pseudo-convertible version of the popular (and soon to be U.S.-bound) retro mini, the 500C features a retractable roof section sliding between solid roof rails. The base Fiat version is doubtlessly a fun ride, but doesn't look much like a performance driving tool. Abarth, however, seems to have done a lot to rectify that shortcoming. First, the goods: a 140-horsepower 1.4-liter turbo four mated to a five-speed robotized manual, complete with paddleshifters, drive the hot open hatch to 62 miles-per-hour in 7.9 seconds. Complementing the added oomph are bigger wheels and brakes, a sportier suspension, an aggressive body kit and a two-tone paint scheme that, to our eyes, does the shape some big favors in the attitude department.



The second model starts with the new Punto Evo - a recently revised version of Fiat's bread-and-butter hatchback - and gives it a shot of adrenaline, courtesy of a 165-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir four. A 178-hp Esse-Esse version of the Abarth Punto Evo will be available from launch as well, but buyers looking for the added boost in retro-cabrio form will presumably have to wait a little longer for the Abarth 500C Esse-Esse to come along. Press release after the jump, and images in the galleries below.

Gallery: Abarth 500C

Gallery: Abarth Punto Evo

[Source: Abarth]

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Geneva Preview: Abarth 500C and Punto Evo are pocket rockets we'd welcome originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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